Elise Jordan is an American journalist and political analyst best known for her work on MSNBC and its successor network, MS NOW. Born on 23 September 1983 in Holly Springs, Mississippi, she has built a distinguished career spanning White House speechwriting, foreign policy advising, and television commentary. Elise currently co-hosts The Weekend Primetime on MS NOW and contributes columns to Time magazine.
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Key takeaways
- Elise Jordan was born on 23 September 1983 in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and is 43 years old as of October 2026.
- She graduated from Yale University in 2004 with a BA in history.
- Elise's first husband, journalist Michael Hastings, died in a car crash on 18 June 2013.
- She married Mike Hogan in 2017, and the couple has a daughter, Mary Clyde, born in 2020.
- Jordan has Republican roots but has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump since 2016.
Elise Jordan's profile summary
Full name | Catherine Elise Jordan |
Date of birth | 23 September 1983 |
Age | 43 (as of October 2026) |
Place of birth | Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA |
Nationality | American |
Profession | Journalist, political analyst, author |
Education | Yale University, BA in History (2004) |
Relationship status | Married |
Husband | Mike Hogan (since 2017) Michael Hastings (2011 to 2013, his death) |
Children | One daughter (Mary Clyde, born 2020) |
Parents | Kelly Jordan and Susan Boone Jordan |
Siblings | Russell Jordan (brother) |
Height | Approximately 5'9" (175 cm) |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Blue |
Elise Jordan's early life and education
Elise Jordan was born on 23 September 1983 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her parents are Kelly Jordan and Susan Boone Jordan, and she grew up alongside her brother, Russell Jordan.
From an early age, Elise showed an adventurous spirit and a passion for the arts, developing a love for dance and admiration for cultural figures such as Michael Jackson. Jordan was inspired to pursue journalism in part by an uncle who was a journalist.
Elise attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in history. That foundation led directly into a career at the highest levels of American government.
Elise Jordan's height
Elise Jordan's exact height has not been officially confirmed. Various sources cite figures ranging from 5'5" (165 cm) to 6'1" (185 cm), with the most commonly cited estimate being approximately 5'9" (175 cm). The MS NOW political analyst has blonde hair and blue eyes.
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Elise Jordan's career in politics and media
After graduating, Jordan joined the George W. Bush administration, serving in the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting. She later moved to the State Department, where she worked as a speechwriter for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In 2007, Elise joined the National Security Council, focusing on press and communications strategy for US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jordan's experience extended into political advisory work. In 2016, she served as a policy and communications adviser to Senator Rand Paul's presidential campaign.
Her move into broadcast journalism saw her become a contributing political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. She appeared regularly on programmes such as Morning Joe and contributed columns to Time magazine throughout her career.
Is Elise Jordan a Republican?
Jordan's career has been rooted in Republican circles — she served under a Republican US president and advised a Republican senator. However, she has become one of the most prominent media critics of Donald Trump.
In 2017, Elise stated that defending Trump was "equivalent to hugging a bomber", a remark that drew widespread attention. She is best described as a centrist or moderate Republican commentator who has broken with the party on Trump.
Where did Elise Jordan go?
In November 2025, MSNBC rebranded as MS NOW. Jordan joined the relaunched network as co-host of The Weekend Primetime, a role she has continued in through 2026.
Who was Elise Jordan's first husband?
In 2007, Elise Jordan met Michael Hastings, a journalist and published author renowned for his coverage of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hastings is best known for his 2010 Rolling Stone cover story "The Runaway General," which contributed to the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal and earned him a George Polk Award for magazine reporting.
Elise and Hastings married in 2011. Their relationship ended tragically when Michael Hastings died on 18 June 2013 in a car crash in Los Angeles. He was 33 years old. Shortly after Hastings' death, Elise told CNN's Piers Morgan:
I have no doubt that he was pursuing a hot story. He always had at least five hot stories going — that was Michael. My gut here is that it was just a really tragic accident, and I'm very unlucky and the world is very unlucky.
Is Elise Jordan still married?
Yes, Elise Jordan is still married. In 2017, she married Mike Hogan, a digital director, in a small private ceremony. The couple has one daughter together, Mary Clyde, who was born in 2020.
Latest news
In November 2025, MSNBC relaunched as MS NOW, reflecting a broader repositioning of the network. Elise Jordan was confirmed as a lead voice on the new network, co-hosting The Weekend Primetime through at least June 2026. She has continued to contribute commentary on US politics and foreign policy across the network's programming.
Elise Jordan's net worth
Elise Jordan's net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Given her long career across government communications, print journalism, and television, the political journalist has built respectable wealth.
FAQs
- Who was Elise Jordan's first husband? Elise Jordan's first husband was Michael Hastings, a journalist and author. They married in 2011. Hastings died on 18 June 2013 in a car crash in Los Angeles, aged 33.
- Does Elise Jordan have children? Yes. Elise Jordan has one daughter, Mary Clyde, born in 2020 with her husband Mike Hogan.
- How old is Elise Jordan? Elise Jordan was born on 23 September 1983, making her 43 years old as of October 2026.
- Is Elise Jordan a Republican? Jordan has Republican roots — she worked in the Bush administration and advised Rand Paul — but she is a prominent critic of Donald Trump and is generally regarded as a centrist commentator.
- Where did Elise Jordan go? Elise Jordan joined MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) when it relaunched in November 2025. She co-hosts The Weekend Primetime on the network.
- What is Elise Jordan's ethnicity? Elise Jordan is a white American, born and raised in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
- How tall is Elise Jordan? Elise Jordan's height has not been officially confirmed. Estimates from various sources range from 5'5" to 6'1", with 5'9" (175 cm) most commonly cited.
- Is Elise Jordan still married? Yes. Elise Jordan married Mike Hogan in 2017. The couple are still together and have a daughter named Mary Clyde, born in 2020.
Conclusion
Elise Jordan is widely recognised for her commanding on-screen presence on America's cable news after transitioning from a White House speechwriter in Washington, D.C., to a respected MS NOW analyst. After the tragic death of her first husband, Elise found love again with Mike Hogan.
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